INFORM SUBNATIONAL MODELS

An INFORM Subnational risk index shows a detailed picture of risk and its components within a single region or country. It uses the same methodology and development process as the global INFORM, but is subnational in resolution. Developing an INFORM Subnational model is a locally owned and managed, cost-effective process that is supported by the global INFORM initiative.

USING INFORM

Introduction to INFORM Subnational

The INFORM initiative already publishes a global INFORM risk index, which consists of a risk assessment for 191 countries at the national level. An INFORM Subnational model uses the same risk assessment methodology and development process, but is adapted to regional or national level. The result is a risk model for humanitarian crises and disasters that has the same features and benefis as the global model, but is subnational (province, municipality, village) in resolution.

How INFORM Subnational works

Like the global version of INFORM, an INFORM Subnational model combines and simplifies a lot of information about crisis and disaster risk using a composite risk index. It includes data on hazards and exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity and allows you to compare the level of risk and all of its components across a region or country. It is also possible to track risk trends using an INFORM model once you have multiple years of data. The geographical resolution of the model will vary depending on data availability, but it is at least Admin Level 1 (province) and can be higher (municipality, village). The development process for an INFORM Subnational model is a consultative process. The development phase will determine the specific components of risk relevant to your local context and practical needs, and identify available data to measure those risks.

Using INFORM Subnational

An INFORM Subnational model can be used to analyse and compare risk and its components across a region or country. This can help you identify at-risk areas and determine
the major driving factors of risk, which can help you decide how to manage it. The results of INFORM are therefore a valuable input into any analysis that will support planning or resource allocation processes. Because the development of INFORM is collaborative and the results are open, it is particularly useful in supporting any decision-making process that involves a wide range or large number of actors, for example strategic humanitarian, development or government planning.

Who can develop and use an INFORM Subnational model?

The development of an INFORM Subnational model is initiated and lead by local or regional actors. In other words, by one or a coalition of actors working to manage the risk of
humanitarian crises and disasters, or to plan for risk-informed development. They could be from government, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations or any other relevant group. For example, the development of INFORM Subnational models so far has been led by regional organisations, UN Resident Coordinators and partnerships of UN agencies. A key part of the development process is consultation and collaboration with many different actors, so many organisations can contribute to the process and benefit from the outcomes. All the results of any INFORM model are open-source. Therefore, anyone can access and use an INFORM Subnational model, from governments to civil society groups and even concerned citizens. The methodology used to develop INFORM is also flexible, so INFORM Subnational models can be adapted by individual organisations and users for their own specific needs.

Developing an INFORM Subnational model

HOW IT WORKS
The development of an INFORM Subnational model is a locally owned and managed process that is supported by the global INFORM initiative. The basic process involves taking the conceptual framework used to measure risk in the global INFORM model, adapting it to the local context and identifying existing subnational level data to measure risk. The local lead organisation/s and partners are responsible for managing the development process and ultimately for owning, maintaining and using the model. The global INFORM initiative provides guidance, technical support and tools, especially during the development phase. It validates the Subnational model to ensure it complies with global standards. Many major international humanitarian and development organisations are part of the INFORM initiative at the global level and can therefore leverage and support the participation of their local counterparts in the development process.

THE PROCESS
The development process broadly consists of a preparation phase, a development phase and a use phase. During the preparation phase, the local lead works with partners to assess feasibility, build support and identify resources for the development of the model. The development phase consists of identifying the most important risks to include in the model and the data available for measuring them through a workshop and follow-up research. Help is available during this phase and the global INFORM initiative will provide technical support to build the model itself. During the use phase, the local lead and partners ensure that the model is used, maintained and refined as needed and they have access to ongoing technical support if required.

Roles and Responsability

All INFORM models are intended to be sustainable and regularly updated, rather than a one-off analysis. This is the joint responsibility of the local lead organisation/s and the INFORM global initiative.